Foot operated dimmer switch with grommet for preventing interference by the floor covering



y 4, 1966 L. G. CASS ET AL 3,253,094

FOOT OPERATED DIMMER SWITCH WITH GROMMET FOR PREVENTING INTERFERENCE BY THE FLOOR COVERING Filed July 24, 1963 I VENTORS, Jae/z: 6' ass 11 144676. ff )fdrcfz f W Q A W \floor covering if desired.

United States Patent-O 3,253,094 FOOT OPERATED DIMMER SWITCH WITH GROM- MET FOR PREVENTING INTERFERENCE BY THE FLOOR COVERING Louis G. Cass, Detroit, and Wade R. Marett, Livonia, Mich., assiguors to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 24, 1963, Ser. No. 297,351 3 Claims. (Cl. 200-86.5)

This invention relates to improvements in a foot operated automobile headlight dimmer switch and in particular to a floor switch of the type adapted to extend upwardly through an opening in a floor covering such as a carpet.

In a customary floor switch, an actuating button extends through a hole in the floor covering and is shiftable toward and from the floor to operate the switch. Usually a grommet of some sort is employed around the switch body to overlie the floor covering and conceal the hole therein. The grommet is frequently of flexible rubberlike material, such that the floor covering is enabled to shift and bind the button and interfere with its operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved floor switch of the above general character which may extend a minimum distance above the floor covering and which provides simple economically formed means to prevent the floor covering from interfering with operation of the actuating button.

Another and more specific object is to provide such a switch comprising a mounting or housing adapted to be secured to the floor and to extend upwardly through the floor covering. An upright stem of the housing carries the actuating button which telescopes over the upper end of the stem into an annular well formed around the base of the stem by means of an annular rigid wall of the housing. An annular grommet of rigid material has an annular downturned flange firmly secured to the wall. upper edge of the flange adjacent the upper edge of the wall, the grommet flares outwardly to comprise an apron adapted to overlie the floor covering and to prevent the same from overriding the wall and interfering with operation of the button.

By virtue of this construct-ion, the rigid flange of the grommet provides adequate means for securely engaging the wall of the well, thereby to support the grommet apron. The well receives the button upon downward actuation thereof, so that the lower edge of the button may actually be depressed below the outer surface of the In consequence the overall height of the button above the floor covering can be materially reduced, as compared to conventional switches. In addition, the well serves as a receptacle for disposing of dirt or sand which otherwise tends to accumulate around the base of the button and interfere with its operation.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a mid-sectional view through a dimmer switch embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

From the Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by way of example in an automobile floor switch 10 for dimming head lights. The mechanism of the switch 10 is enclosed within a housing or mounting 11 having a pair of footings 11a secured by screws 12 to the automobile floor board 13 which in accordance with customary practice is provided with a floor covering comprising an inner pad 14 and an outer carpet or mat 15.

The switch mechanism comprises a fixed stem 16 which extends upright through a hole 17 in the floor covering. Telescoping over the upper end of the stem 16 is an actuating button 18 adapted to be depressed by foot operation toward the floor board to dim or brighten the head lights. Spring means which may be conventional and is not shown may be employed to return the button 18 to the upper limit of its movement illustrated.

The mounting 11 extends upright through the opening 17 around the switch mechanism and terminates at its upper end in an annular wall 19 extending coaxially around the stem 16 and spaced therefrom to provide an annular well 20. The base 21 of the well 20 comprises an integral portion of the wall 19 and is located sufliciently below the top of the wall to provide a receptacle for sand or dirt. Outwardly of the base 21 is an annular platform 22 which provides a seat for the lower edge of a flange 23 of an annular grommet 24.

The grommet 24 is preferably of comparatively rigid material and its flange 23 extends downwardly tightly around the outer surface of wall 19 to frictionally engage the same. From the upper edge of flange 23, and adjacent the upper edge of wall 19, the grommet 24 flares outwardly to comprise an apron overlying the mat 15 and concealing the hole 17. The outer periphery of the grommet 24 bends downwardly to closely overlie the upper surface of the carpet 15.

In accordance with the structure shown, upon operation of the button 18, the latter may be depressed by foot action into the well 20 to the phantom position shown without interference by the carpet 15. The well 20 enables a reduction in the over-all height of the button 18 in its uppermost position, whereas the wall 19 and grommet flange 23 cooperate to hold the grommet 24 in place so that the carpet '15 can not override the wall 19 and interfere with operation of the switch mechanism.

We claim:

1. In a floor switch, a switch assembly adapted to be secured to a floor and to extend upright therefrom through a hole in a floor covering, said assembly including an upright stem, a switch actuating button mounted on said stem for telescoping movement thereover toward and from said floor, and means for shielding said button to prevent binding thereof by said floor covering comprising a wall around said stern and spaced therefrom to define a well around said stem adapted to receive said button freely therein upon actuation of said button, the last named means also including a grommet having an inner annular flange extending downwardly and coaxially with said stem from adjacent the upper edge of said well and being removably secured to said wall, said grommet having an apron extending outwardly from adjacent the upper edge of said well to overlie said floor covering.

2. In a floor switch, a switch assembly including a housing adapted to be secured to a floor and to extend upright therefrom through a hole in a floor covering, said assembly including a stem extending upright from said housing, a switch actuating button mounted on said stern for telescoping movement thereover toward and from said floor, and means for shielding said button to prevent binding thereof by said floor covering comprising an upright wall portion of said housing around the base of said stem cent the upper edge of said wall to overlie said floor covering and prevent the same from overriding said wall.

3. In a floor switch, a switch assembly including a housing adapted to be secured to a floor and to extend upright therefrom through a hole in a floor covering, said assembly including a stem extending upright from said housing, a switch actuating button mounted on said stem for telescoping movement thereover toward and from said floor, and means for shielding said button to prevent binding thereof by said floor covering comprising a portion of said housing defining a wall extending upright from around the base of said stem and bounding a well for receiving said button freely therein upon actuation of said button, and a grommet of comparatively rigid material having an inner annular flange extending downwardly and coaxially with said wall from adjacent the upper edge thereof and being frictionally secured to said wall, said grommet having an apron extending outwardly from said -Wall adjacent the upper edge thereof to overlie said floor covering and prevent the same from overriding said Wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,169,996 8/1939 Edwards 200-168 X 2,671,268 3/1954 Crawford 20086.5 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 24,193 1/1931 Australia.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT K. SC-HAEFER, Examiner.

o HERBERT A. LEWITTER, Assistant Examiner. 

2. IN A FLOOR SWITCH, A SWITCH ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO A FLOOR AND TO EXTEND UPRIGHT THEREFROM THROUGH A HOLE IN A FLOOR COVERING, SAID ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A STEM EXTENDING UPRIGHT FROM SAID HOUSING, A SWITCH ACTUATING BUTTON MOUNTED ON SAID STEM FOR TELESCOPING MOVEMENT THEREOVER TOWARD AND FROM SAID FLOOR, AND MEANS FOR SHIELDING SAID BUTTON TO PREVENT BINDING THEREOF BY SAID FLOOR COVERING COMPRISING AN UPRIGHT WALL PORTION OF SAID HOUSING AROUND THE BASE OF SAID STEM ADAPTED TO EXTEND THROUGH SAID HOLE TO ADJACENT THE LEVEL OF THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID COVERING AND BOUNDING A WELL FOR RECEIVING SAID BUTTON FREELY THEREIN UPON ACTUATION OF SAID BUTTON, AND A GROMMET OF COMPARATIVELY RIGID MATERIAL HAVING AN INNER PORTION REMOVABLY SECURED TO SAID WALL AND HAVING AN APRON EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM ADJACENT THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID WALL TO OVERLIE SAID FLOOR COVERING AND PREVENTING THE SAME FROM OVERRIDING SAID WALL. 